Well, I can’t speak for
Bloodlust as I wasn’t there (see the podcasts on the
Dark Shadows Soundcloud for that), but for
Bloodline and
Windcliff the short version is as follows…
Broadly it starts with lots of meetings with plots and ideas being discussed, rejected, accepted, refined and built out, etc. And then lots of spreadsheets and documents containing the episode outlines end up being created. In the case of
Windcliff, we’ve also ended up with a detailed series bible of all the new characters and, unexpectedly, a floor plan. (Good work on that last one, Paul: nice architecting.)
When it comes to the writing, a block of episodes is usually split between the writers (
Bloodline had four writers so four episodes were split as a block, for example). We all then go away, write our assigned episode on our own in a dungeon / garret / study / wine bar, and bring it back to the group when the deadline arrives (or when Joe and Davy point out the deadline was actually last week and seriously guys could you hurry the damn thing along, please and thank you).
We all then read each other’s scripts, think about them and how they affect each other, and then submit a bunch of notes on each other’s episodes. At that point each of us goes back to the dungeon / garret / study / wine bar and does another draft on our assigned episode.
Ultimately multiple sets of notes and drafts occur until everyone’s happy with that block and we’re ready to move on. At which point the next batch of episodes gets assigned and we rinse and repeat until all the episodes are in.
For
Bloodline (and I expect
Windcliff) there’s then a lot of polishing of the serial as a whole to smooth it over and really make it flow. Joe – as the showrunner – takes a lead on that, but the writers are all over it too. A few more drafts and sets of notes turn up until finally we end up with a finely-tuned clockwork mechanism of death, insanity and horror to take to studio.
And you know what? The writing is the easy bit.
(Well… you did ask!)
